A FISHING club has called the controversial decision to open up Ringwood's Millstream to all anglers free of charge "crazy" and now fears for the river's future.

The town council has leased its right to fish sections of the stream between Pocket Park and Hampshire Hatches to Ringwood and District Angling Club for more than 30 years.

For ten months it has tried to sell the rights and rejected a five-figure offer from the club who were responsible for supervising anglers and keeping the waters clean under the lease agreement.

The club admitted it is bitterly disappointed with the town council's decision and now fears that without careful husbandry the stream could turn into a weed-clogged ditch.

Treasurer of the club Graham Lavender said: "We are surprised and disappointed and we don't believe it will work in practice. We are particularly concerned about the maintenance of the water and the safety of anglers.

"We were prepared to pay a substantial amount of money for it and maintain it for the people of Ringwood."

Mr Lavender added that the club felt its role was ignored in the decision and allowing fishing free of charge was depriving the town's ratepayers of a valuable source of income.

Ringwood Town Council's clerk Terry Simpson said the council attempted to sell its right to fish the stream on the open market, but did not receive any offers it felt matched their value so decided to open it up to all anglers.

"At the moment there are no plans to review the situation within any set period of time," he said.

First published: October 18